[Harp-L] Re: fender bassman ltd again

[Ray Beltran <raybeltran@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 3/17/05 11:47 AM, Russ Bradley wrote:

> I don't think the point Bob was making was that gear doesn't matter.
> The original complaint was that a bassman ltd didn't give someone "that
> LW sound" and disputing that point of view is not saying gear doesn't
> matter.
> 
> Frankly, I think it's physically impossible to copy anybody's sound.
> The head, chest and hands of a player all form the resonating chamber
> for the harp.  To get Sonny Boy or Little Walter's tone, your head,
> chest and hands all need to be identical to them, in addition to
> technique.  This isn't like guitar, where you can use the same guitar,
> amp and effects as Eric Clapton and get in the ballpark tonally.  There
> are a lot of people who will never get in the ballpark of Little Walter
> or Sonny Boy or Big Walter in terms of tone simply because of the
> size/shape of their head, chest and hands.  That doesn't mean they are
> doomed to poor tone, it just means they just need to develop a tone that
> works for them.


So true, Russ. And for those of you who don't believe it, check it out for
yourself. Beside their signature chops, it's not all that difficult to tell
your favorite players apart just from their unique tone signature.


> And, for all the talk, no mic or amp is going to give you bottom end.
> Some mics and amps amplify the lower frequencies YOU PRODUCE better than
> others.  If there isn't that much lower frequencies in what's being
> played, no mic or amp is going to generate it for you.

And it all comes from tapping into and utilizing your own unique internal
resonance, and carrying it into and through the critical harp/hand/mic
interface. It's much more involved than simple "good mic technique."

Ray.
-- 
www.resgraphics.com/music